seating steering head bearings with IMA triple clamps???

[Düb Lüv]

My top



Bottom

[COP TZR]

You may have to get us a little better pic. It almost looks like on the duct cover on the bottle race isnt settled or positioned correctly but it may be the picture. Ill take so e closer ones of mine.

Josh sent me the triples with the bottom washer/seal and bearing already "pressed" onto the stem.  The more I look at it, I'm beginning to think that the lower bearing isnt pressed low enough on the stem?  I dont think that will make a difference in terms of the visible gap I see.   Gap is between the bottom washer plate and the bottom of the steering tube.  I can see the rubber on the bearing seal.

[Düb Lüv]

If it still looks concerning, you may need to pull it apart again to take a second look. Working with just the stem is the easiest the throw the upper and lowers on.

Josh helped me with the order of the headset stuff also.

[COP TZR]

If it still looks concerning, you may need to pull it apart again to take a second look. Working with just the stem is the easiest the throw the upper and lowers on.

Josh helped me with the order of the headset stuff also.

My top bearing doesnt slide over the top of the steering stem easily.  They are new tapered bearings.  In comparision to my OEM stem, new and old bearing slide on easy by hand.  With the new stem I have to tap it into place with effort.  The only way to get it apart now is if I hammer on the top stem pushing it out of the steering tube.

Arrggghhhhhhhhhhhh.........................       

[COP TZR]

prior to installation with base plate, seal and bearing pressed on.

[Düb Lüv]

I'd just hang tight til you either hear something from josh or IMA for a solution. Yeah it sucks but nothing you can. Being a car mechanic patients pays off. Everything will be okay. Believe me.

[COP TZR]

I'd just hang tight til you either hear something from josh or IMA for a solution. Yeah it sucks but nothing you can. Being a car mechanic patients pays off. Everything will be okay. Believe me.

thanks for the words of wisdom.  I guess I've got no choice but to wait.  My forks and clip ons await, as well as my freshly refinished Marchesinis

[Düb Lüv]

thanks for the words of wisdom.  I guess I've got no choice but to wait.  My forks and clip ons await, as well as my freshly refinished Marchesinis

I'd just hate to see anything get scratched or damaged especially those triples.

[COP TZR]

I stand corrected.  MOD1 "classic" upper & MOD1-"evo" lower triples.

I will have to shoot Josh an email since I got them from him.  

I'm still waiting.  I've sent Josh an email

[junior varsity]

Been out of town, sorry for the delay. If I need to get you a replacement stem I can do that. We've had one other report of thickness being out of spec on stems due to irregularities in the anodizing process, but very isolated compared to total number of stems made. 

As far as the lower bearing being seated, that's the first place to look to see if perhaps its not flush. On the all-balls bearing kits we've used, we do find a bit of drag from the seal on the bearing race. Its attributable to the size of their bearing and seal, and the slight interference of the two. We've not noticed any effects on performance.

Let me know what I can do to help you out, and I'll get things rolling on my end. I'm back on airplane later today, and then back on another airplane tomorrow night, so I'll have a bit of downtime to think about this while in airports, but unable to ship anything presently.

[COP TZR]

Been out of town, sorry for the delay. If I need to get you a replacement stem I can do that. We've had one other report of thickness being out of spec on stems due to irregularities in the anodizing process, but very isolated compared to total number of stems made. 

As far as the lower bearing being seated, that's the first place to look to see if perhaps its not flush. On the all-balls bearing kits we've used, we do find a bit of drag from the seal on the bearing race. Its attributable to the size of their bearing and seal, and the slight interference of the two. We've not noticed any effects on performance.

Let me know what I can do to help you out, and I'll get things rolling on my end. I'm back on airplane later today, and then back on another airplane tomorrow night, so I'll have a bit of downtime to think about this while in airports, but unable to ship anything presently.

Josh,
Can you PM me or reply via email please.  I think I'll need a replacement stem.  Bearings are seated all the way.  If I press them in anymore, the steering is too snug requiring effort to turn the triples.  Shouldnt they turn freely?  I understand there will be a little drag due to grease and seals, but shouldnt require force to turn

[COP TZR]

to add to this... when I removed my OEM triples and bearings, there were no bearing seals in either upper and lower bearing.  It was just the washer base plate on the lower, and the "dished" washer on the upper.  Are those acting as seals?   When I look at the Ducati parts catalog for my bike (2000 M750), the exploded diagram only shows the bearings and washer.  No seals.   If I assemble my IMA triples in this fashion without seals, the fitment looks good.

Do I eliminate the seals? Any issues without them?

[Speeddog]

IMO, do what you can to use the seals.

Steering head bearings on a streetbike need seals.

[COP TZR]

IMO, do what you can to use the seals.

Steering head bearings on a streetbike need seals.

I understand your point of view, however why did my original parts not have seals and why does the parts fische not show seals either?  Just the washers on top of the bearings. 

[ducpainter]

I understand your point of view, however why did my original parts not have seals and why does the parts fische not show seals either?  Just the washers on top of the bearings. 

The pre-ST or 851 framed bikes had no seals.